American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 18

operations on computer screens in the
office. "We shot all the computer screens
with tracking marks so Jellyfish could later
key in what the drone operator sees on
his three monitors," explains Jewel. "It
was a challenge for Ewen to act off of and
react to blank screens. For close-ups of
Ewen [with the monitors out of frame],
James and I cut together a short film for
him to react to; we used stock footage of
families playing together and built up to
real footage of drone strikes that we
found online."
To get aerial shots of the drone's
unspecified foreign target, the filmmakers
flew a Canon EOS 5D Mark II on an Octocopter over a sand quarry outside of
London. Jellyfish artists then comped
these onto the operator's monitors. "In
post, we graded those shots green and
added tracking marks and navigational
symbols," says Jewel.
Drone was edited on an Avid by
Paul Knight. Watson and Jewel supervised
the final color correction at Pinewood
Studios, where colorist Martin Greenbank
graded on a DaVinci Resolve. "We had
two days for the grade, which was a real
luxury on a short film," notes Jewel. "The
main challenge was to give the picture a
stylistic look whilst keeping the color
palette muted. We really wanted to
emphasize the feeling of isolation and the
artificiality of the drone operator's
surroundings.
"The fact that a drone operator
can drive home to his family after having
completed a strike, and be at his children's
football game an hour after a mission,
seems a really surreal and disturbing way
to exist," adds the director. "Thanks to
modern warfare technology, some battlefields are now only a short commute
away."
Drone has screened at more than a
dozen film festivals in the United States
and abroad, most recently at the BFI
London Film Festival. Jewel and Watson
recently wrapped another documentary
short, Foley, about Pinewood Studios'
award-winning Foley artists.
●

Top: Octocopter
operator Adam Hall
(far left) and
Octocopter pilot Leo
Bund, both from
Digital Cinema Films,
prepare to shoot the
drone footage in a
sand quarry while
Watson (in red
jacket) confers with
director Daniel
Jewel. Middle: The
Octocopter in action.
Bottom: A closer
look at the
Octocopter.

18

December 2013

American Cinematographer



American Cinematographer - December 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - December 2013

Contents
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - Cover1
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - Cover2
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - Contents
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 2
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 3
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 4
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 5
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 6
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 7
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 8
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 9
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 10
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 11
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 12
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 13
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 14
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 15
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 16
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 17
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 18
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 19
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 20
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 21
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 22
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 23
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 24
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 25
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 26
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 27
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 28
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 29
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 30
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 31
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 32
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 33
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 34
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 35
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 36
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 37
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 38
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 39
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 40
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 41
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 42
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 43
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 44
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 45
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 46
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 47
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 48
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 49
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 50
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 51
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 52
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 53
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 54
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 55
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 56
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 57
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 58
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 59
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 60
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 61
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 62
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 63
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 64
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - S-1
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - S-2
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - S-3
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - S-4
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - S-5
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - S-6
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - S-7
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - S-8
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - S-9
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - S-10
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - S-11
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - S-12
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 65
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 66
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 67
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 68
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 69
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 70
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 71
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 72
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 73
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 74
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 75
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 76
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 77
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 78
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 79
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 80
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 81
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 82
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 83
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 84
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 85
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 86
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 87
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 88
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 89
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 90
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 91
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 92
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 93
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 94
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 95
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 96
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 97
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 98
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 99
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 100
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 101
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 102
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 103
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 104
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 105
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 106
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 107
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 108
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 109
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 110
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 111
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 112
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 113
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 114
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 115
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - 116
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - Cover3
American Cinematographer - December 2013 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1218_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1118_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1018_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0918_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0818_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0718_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0618_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0518_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0418_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0318_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0218_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0118_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1217_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1117_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1017_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0917_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0817_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0717_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0617_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0517_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0417_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0317_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0217_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0117_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1216_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1116_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1016_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0916_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0816_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0716_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0616_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0516_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0416_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0316_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0216_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0116_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1215_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1115_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1015_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0915_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0815_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0715_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0615_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0515_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0415_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0315_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0215_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0115_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0914
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0714
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0514
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0913
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0813
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0713
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0613
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0513
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0413
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0313
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ac/ac0110
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com